Engaging with Africa: Interview with PR Expert Sibongile West

Engaging with Africa
An Interview with Sibongile Bradley-West

"The work of African PTSD Relief is turning peoples lives around," says public relations expert and certified TM teacher, Sibongile Bradley-West, who is the latest member of APR's advisory board.

Sibongile's vision for nurturing the dynamic transformation now underway across Africa is grounded in her commitment to helping bring APR's programs to the land from where so many ancient civilizations sprang.

Sibongile's first project for APR has been to engage the next generation of young women in this important effort by establishing an internship program for students of the world-renowned Spelman College, a historically Black college in Atlanta and a global leader in the education of women of African descent. 
​
APR: Welcome, Sibongile, to African PTSD Relief. You are now an Advisory Board Member. Why did you decide to help African PTSD Relief?

Sibongile: As a certified teacher of Transcendental Meditation, for over four decades I have had the pleasure to witness those practicing TM benefit from the reduction of stress along with many additional health benefits. 

"The next step is to make TM available to those populations that are suffering. African PTSD Relief has taken up the mantle and I am honored to join in this effort."

Many nations within the continent of Africa experienced a 300 year holocaust in the forms of the slave trade, colonialization and being stripped of many natural resources. These catastrophes were a huge factor that generated economic and educational suppression and plays a role in the ongoing wars and strife seen in our current times. These conditions have left a number of African countries with their citizens, especially women and children suffering from PTSD. Not all the nations in Africa are affected, but those that are experience high incidence of violence and despair.

Scientific studies have verified that Transcendental Meditation reduces stress and provides inner calm. Recent studies show that incidents of PTSD reduce within 30 days of a person learning TM. This is remarkable news. 
 
APR:  You recently advised APR to structure an internship program. How will that program benefit the interns and APR?  How is that going?

Sibongile:  Internships as a whole can be quite effective in giving students real practical work experience and a chance to be mentored by professionals who work in the intern’s major area of study. Organizations that employ interns tend to have the additional people resources to fulfill their workload needs and have an opportunity to field fresh ideas from what are often bright and enthusiastic students. There are so many people who would like to contribute to the plight of nations in despair in Africa, but have no viable way or means to do so.

The Africa PTSD Relief project is a perfect opportunity for bring relief to those suffering from PTSD and for those who would like to be of assistance, the internship program is ideal. The interns are being trained to be a part of the team making a monumental difference in the lives of those who are in dire need of this program while at the same time their work will enhance the practical knowledge of their major area of study.

 The first round of students is from Spelman College.

There is a famous quote from Alice Walker, an alumnus from Spelman and also has practiced Transcendental Meditation.  She is quoted as saying, “Activism is one’s rent for living on the planet.” What better activism/activity than to help bring inner peace and serenity to someone suffering from PTSD.

APR: Do you have anything you'd like to say about the situation in Africa and that in African American populations in the US?
​
Sibongile: There are 54 countries in Africa with hundreds of cultures and thousands of languages. When I think how it is the land where many ancient civilizations sprang, it gives credence to its resilience and its bright promise. Many nations in Africa are steadily rebounding from the past centuries of devastation with great achievement in the area of business, science and education.

There is now great promise of an opportunity for populations suffering from PTSD due to war and strife to find relief with the scientifically verifiable benefits of stress reduction found in the Transcendental Meditation Program.

Americans who have ancestral links to Africa have a common thread with Africans in that they have triumphed and made great attainments despite the odds. For Americans who are still directly affected by disparities in health, economic and educational opportunities, studies have shown that these conditions lend themselves to high levels of stress and depression and in a good number of cases there are incidences of PTSD. Here also is a great need for attention to be paid to bring the Transcendental Meditation program to these American communities.

In 1970 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who brought the knowledge of Transcendental Meditation to the west, sanctioned TM teachers who desired to assist communities of color suffering from undue stress and disparities to start an organization. That organization, TMC, Inc. successfully taught thousands of people Transcendental Meditation throughout the United States and there is still much work to do to continue that endeavor. 

Today it is gratifying to see the attention that is being paid to Africa through Africa PTSD, as well as the commendable job by the David Lynch Foundation in bringing TM to urban city schools and groups whose circumstances can be greatly could benefited by practicing TM.

APR: What is your long-term vision for APR? 

Sibongile: I see APR receiving world-wide attention and being sponsored and funded by individuals and benevolent corporations to create the infrastructure needed to teach TM to the masses of people in various parts of Africa suffering from PTSD.  

This structure can be used as a model for other continents and nations as well as within communities in the United States where citizens due to their environment or circumstance are saddled with the symptoms of PTSD.

APR: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

Sibongile: The work of Africa PTSD is turning lives around and helping people who are in despair experience inner peace and resilience. I applaud and am honored to be associated with this organization and their commendable endeavor. 
​
We invite everyone to support this scientifically verifiable program of using Transcendental Meditation to reduce and/or eradicate the incidence of PTSD. Whether the resources being offered are financial, networking opportunities or the offering of time and talent, it all makes a difference in realizing the success of this laudable work.